Colorado State University

Is there a family leave policy for graduate students? If so, describe.

The employee is eligible for family leave if the following criteria are met:
•The employee has worked for the University for at least 12 months - this time does not need to be consecutive and includes any past employment as a student, GA, non-student hourly, classified, etc.
•The employee has worked at least 1,040 hours during the 12 months immediately preceding the first day of leave.

Is there family health insurance for graduate students? If so, is it included in the stipend?

Yes, there is family health insurance available. The additional cost for family health insurance is not included in the stipend.

Please describe why someone applying to graduate school who is interested in a female-friendly department should choose your department.

The Physics Department encourages and supports the advancement of women in physics. Many women have taken leadership roles at CSU. We are proud to have a female dean for the college of Natural Sciences, Dr. Jan L. Nerger. CSU has a female graduate student in the Physics Department and serves as the Graduate Student Council President. She also is one of the mentors for the Women in Physics group at CSU. The Women in Physics undergraduate group is mentored by female graduate students who meet weekly; the group also has male members. In addition to providing a forum for women's needs in the context of getting a BS in Physics, the group is also involved in community service. The Women in Physics faculty mentor is a female faculty member in the Department of Physics. In our ongoing effort to support female students, the Physics Department is a 2013 sponsor for Rocky Mountain Region Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics. We continue to strive for ways to welcome, support, and enhance the professional development of women in physics and all groups that are underrepresented in physics.

Has the institution had a Climate for Women in Physics Site Visit or Gender Equity Conversation?